Counter-Hyperbole

(Psa 90:4 KJV)  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

What is the opposite of hyperbole?  We are used to hyperbole.  Think of the camel going through the eye of a needle.  It is exaggeration for effect.  Here we have a statement that on the surface seems like it illustrates the point but underneath is counter-hyperbole.  Think of something that represents a long time.  Will a thousand years do it for you?  Notice the second example, a night watch.  If you have never had guard duty you may not understand how long that feels.  It is even longer than waiting for a pot to boil or your wife to get ready.

Many of the examples in the Bible are meant to get a point across, not to be taken as the final word.  I ran into this in the account of the flood.  God said He was going to do away with all flesh but evidently that did not include Noah and his family.  

So?  Try to see the point God is making.  I tend to get off on tangents and chasing squirrels.  The Holy Spirit has to keep pulling me back.  Another attribute of God is patience.

Infinity < Everlasting

(Psa 90:2 KJV)  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

One of the attributes of God is that He is eternal.  To be honest, that is beyond our comprehension.  Science has come up with the concept of infinity.  You may be better than I am but I find infinity beyond my comprehension and the amusing part of that is infinity does not even begin to get close to eternity.

I will grant you that the term “everlasting” (5769) is sometimes used to denote things that are comprehendible but the way it is doubled and expressed here is an attempt to express the unexpressible.

So?  Would you really want a God that you could grasp in your mind?  What would that say about God?  What would it say about your mind?  What would it say about your ego?  I am comfortable with my limitations. 

Holy Moses

(Psa 90:1 KJV)  A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

(Proverbs 27 also read)

Everyone knows that David wrote the Psalms and Solomon wrote Proverbs.  Everyone.  Except those who are paying attention.  Notice what the beginning of this Psalm says, “A prayer of Moses...”  I assume that statements like this at the beginning of Psalms are in the actual Hebrew.  What difference does that make?  In this case it means just what it says, Moses wrote this Psalm.

The point here is that we are only supposed to make a statement a place to take a stand if it is clearly stated in the Bible.  Thus we don’t die on the hill of “Paul wrote Hebrews” or “infant baptism”.  

So?  Stick with what the Bible says.  It will be more than enough to make your day, or get you into hot water at church.